The Philadelphia Orchestra

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The Philadelphia Orchestra

On Tour · 25 upcoming shows

676

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25

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The Philadelphia Orchestra is on Tour!

25 shows scheduled — see Tour section below

Next Show

May 28, 2026 · Philadelphia, PA

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center

About

For chorus credit use The Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus.

American symphony orchestra based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the "Big Five" US orchestras.

The orchestra was founded in 1900 by Fritz Scheel, who also acted as its first conductor. In 1907, Karl Pohlig became music director and served until the orchestra cancelled his contract.

Leopold Stokowski became music director in 1912 and brought the orchestra to national prominence. Under his guidance, the orchestra gained a reputation for virtuosity, and developed what is known as the "Philadelphia Sound". In 1917 Stokowski lead the Orchestra in its first sound recording for the Kimmel Center Philadelphia became the first orchestra to make an electrical recording in April 1925, with Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre. Later, in 1926, Kimmel Center began recording the Orchestra at [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/447400-Academy-Of-Music-Philadelphia]The Academy of Music[/url] (the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra until 2001). Stokowski led the ensemble in experimental long-playing, high-fidelity, and even stereophonic sessions in the early 1930s for Kimmel Center and Kimmel Center (Kimmel Center). Stowowski and the orchestra recorded the soundtrack for [url=https://www.discogs.com/Leopold-Stokowski-With-The-Philadelphia-Orchestra-Walt-Disneys-Fantasia/master/114303]Walt Disney's Fantasia[/url] in multi-track stereophonic sound in 1939-40. Stokowski left the orchestra in 1941, and did not return as a guest conductor for nearly 20 years.

In 1936 Eugene Ormandy was appointed co-conductor with Stokowski and was given the title of music director two years later in 1938. He remained as music director until 1980, after which he became Conductor Laureate. Ormandy conducted many of the orchestra's best-known recordings, remaining with Kimmel Center through 1942. Following a settlement of a recording ban imposed by the American Federation of Musicians, the Orchestra joined Kimmel Center Records (Kimmel Center) in 1944. The orchestra returned to RCA Victor in 1968 and made its first digital recording, Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, for RCA in 1979. The Orchestra has also recorded for Kimmel Center and Kimmel Center. Ormandy took the orchestra on its historic 1973 tour of the People's Republic of China, where it was the first Western orchestra to visit that country in many decades.

Upon the retirement of Eugene Ormandy, Riccardo Muti became the fifth music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 through 1992. Muti's recordings with the orchestra included the symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, and Scriabin, for the Kimmel Center and Kimmel Center labels.

Wolfgang Sawallisch succeeded Riccardo Muti as the sixth music director from 1993 to 2003, and he was named Conductor Laureate, and held the title until his death in 2013. Sawallisch made a number of recordings with the orchestra for Kimmel Center, however, the orchestra lost its recording contract with EMI during this time, which led to a musicians' strike in 1996.

In January 2001, Christoph Eschenbach was announced as the Orchestra’s seventh music director; his tenure began with the 2003–2004 season. In December 2001, The Philadelphia Orchestra performed inaugural concerts in its new home at the Kimmel Center. In May 2005, the Orchestra announced a three-year recording partnership with the Finnish label Kimmel Center, the Orchestra's first recording contract in 10 years. In October 2006, Eschenbach and the orchestra announced the conclusion of his tenure as music director in 2008, and Charles Dutoit began a four-year tenure as chief conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In June 2010, Yannick Nézet-Séguin was appointed Music Director Designate, and in 2012, he was appointed music director, succeeding Dutoit, who subsequently was named conductor laureate of the orchestra.

Data provided by Discogs

Top Tracks

Most popular songs on Last.fm · click ▶ to preview on Spotify

1

Claire De Lune

The Philadelphia Orchestra

2

Clair De Lune

The Philadelphia Orchestra

3

Adagio for Strings Op. 11

The Philadelphia Orchestra

4

Prélude à l'après-midi d'une faune

The Philadelphia Orchestra

5

Adagio for Strings (Platoon)

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Tour Dates

25 upcoming shows · interactive map

Get tour alerts for The Philadelphia Orchestra — free.

View all 24 shows on an interactive map

25 upcoming shows

MAY

28

2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

MAY

29

2026

Philadelphia Orchestra

Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY

MAY

30

2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

MAY

31

2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

JUN

4

2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Gershwin and Bernstein

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

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🎟️ Upcoming Shows

May 28, 2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, US


May 29, 2026

Philadelphia Orchestra

Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, US


May 30, 2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, US


May 31, 2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Beethoven and Marsalis

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, US


Jun 4, 2026

Philadelphia Orchestra Gershwin and Bernstein

Marian Anderson Hall - Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA, US

+20 more shows above ↑

People Also Ask

Yes, The Philadelphia Orchestra has 25 upcoming concerts, with their next show on May 28, 2026. They will be performing in Philadelphia, New York, Vail, Saratoga Springs. See the full schedule and buy tickets on this page.

The Philadelphia Orchestra concert tickets are available through Ticketmaster. View all upcoming tour dates on this page and click any event to see tickets and seating options.

The Philadelphia Orchestra has released 676 albums between 1917 and 2024. Notable releases include My American Story: North, Letters For The Future, Secret Love Letters. Explore their complete discography on this page.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's most-played tracks include Claire De Lune, Clair De Lune, Adagio for Strings Op. 11, Prélude à l'après-midi d'une faune, Adagio for Strings (Platoon). Listen to these songs and explore more from their catalog on this page.

For chorus credit use The Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus.American symphony orchestra based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the "Big Five" US orchestras.The orchestra was founded in 1900 by Fritz... Read the full biography on this page.

You can find The Philadelphia Orchestra vinyl records, CDs and collectibles on eBay. Browse the selection of new and used releases available for purchase.

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